Recommitted Zach Merrett [UFA 2027] - Wanted a trade to Hawthorn, but it didn't get done

[Lore]

There we go, that's the clip:

 

[_DBF_]

Hawks don’t make a marked improvement next year. I jest they’ll be up there again

And the Bombers probably don’t improve ever now. What’s not to love?

 

[KickinGoalz]

We literally offered more wtf do you mean?

This will hurt the Hawks for the immediate future. You assured Zach & his manager you would get the deal done. That means whatever it takes.
Just as the Swans & Suns have just done.

It surely has to cause future doubt for high profile players nominating the Hawks while the current recruiting team is in control?

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

You asked who their replacements will likely be and they are. Forgetting the obvious that there are still 3 drafts until the 2028 season.


Considering Hawthorn almost beat Brisbane at the end of 2025 which would of had them third, whilst still playing off in a prelim, I’d say it isn’t that big of a gap.

JUH will be lucky to play AFL next year.

Day returns for Hawthorn, full preseason to Dear for the first time, Lewis aswell. Weddle, Mackenzie, Scrimshaw, and Butler ontop of the mentioned players will have big pre seasons leading into 2026 where a lot of them missed significant time in 2025. That’s improvement, ontop of natural development.

What happens in regards to drafts is a wait and see.

Hawthorn refused to pay four firsts and a second for a 30 year old Merrett. Which is just simply unbelievably stupid to even consider that an option for a trade.

That old chest nut "He's 30 years old"

He's not your normal 30 year old player said he wants to play till he's 35 and I believe him. Bloke is the ultimate pro in keeping him self fit and hungry hardly get injured he's missed more games through suspension

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Hawthorn f....d around all week. They then placed time deadlines on the club and threatened to withdraw picks.

All this after the coach promised the world to a 250 game / 6 x B&F winning club captain.

And you didn't get it done. In fact, you got very little done as far as improving your list goes.

Swaggered into trade week like a gunslinger and slinked out with your tail between your legs. How embarrassing.

He promised Merrett that the hawks would pay more then 4 first round picks for him did he?

 

[GinniAndTonic]

This will hurt the Hawks for the immediate future. You assured Zach & his manager you would get the deal done. That means whatever it takes.
Just as the Swans & Suns have just done.

It surely has to cause future doubt for high profile players nominating the Hawks while the current recruiting team is in control?

Mate the only reason you can afford trac is because the afl is paying the deal. 17 other clubs would’ve walked from the Merrett deal

 

[Dewyyyyy]

“DGB is great and will be a main stay for the next decade. Kossie, Lewis, Jeka, Callow etc all 23 and under.”

How many are still there?

DGB was talented had his limitations of development

Kosi showed plenty and then stagnated

Lewis has dealt with injuries consistently but has shown to be at a high level when fit

Jeka was ultra talented but lacked a lot of the same things as DGB aswell as work ethic

Don’t know what you’re getting at but talent isn’t what has defined say DGB and Jekas “careers” it was other aspects, like their work ethic or limitations (physical like strength, aerobic base etc).

 

[Sheepey]

I can understand the Hawks not wanting to give up anything additional to their last offer, but by not landing Merrett they've had a poor trade period. Lost Worpel, Jiath and Serong and received nothing in return.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

I think you severely underestimate how much more natural development the teams around the Hawks have.

Even taking away GC/Bris, Freo and GWS both added best 22 players, are younger and in the case of GWS (and Gc) have a bunch of untried first rounders.

Nope I don’t, there’s plenty of development for all clubs. In the way you’ve described however, Hawthorn have little and the rest have heaps. It’s an interesting angle to draw to.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

How many times do you need to be told. Merrett approached the Hawks.

I know it hurts that your captain wants out.

The arrogant grub here is Welsh - knocking back a deal which would genuinely fast track the club’s rebuild, and keeping a contracted 30yo who doesn’t want to be there.

No other way to spin it - it’s complete insanity.

A club wanting to keep their best player and captain who's under contract is being arrogant? lols

If the Hawks offered their 2027 first the deal would have gone through in the last few minutes but i guess you weren't that desperate for Zac in the end

 

[HeHateMe]

Hawthorn f....d around all week. They then placed time deadlines on the club and threatened to withdraw picks.

All this after the coach promised the world to a 250 game / 6 x B&F winning club captain.

And you didn't get it done. In fact, you got very little done as far as improving your list goes.

Swaggered into trade week like a gunslinger and slinked out with your tail between your legs. How embarrassing.

 

[Shueygod]

DGB was talented had his limitations of development

Kosi showed plenty and then stagnated

Lewis has dealt with injuries consistently but has shown to be at a high level when fit

Jeka was ultra talented but lacked a lot of the same things as DGB aswell as work ethic

Don’t know what you’re getting at but talent isn’t what has defined say DGB and Jekas “careers” it was other aspects, like their work ethic or limitations (physical like strength, aerobic base etc).

Right, so your talent identification wasn’t good enough to pick up said limitations then but is now?

It’s improved so much that despite saying with certainty KPP’s sorted for the next decade 4 years ago and being horribly wrong, when you say it now I should believe you.

Cool.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

That old chest nut "He's 30 years old"

He's not your normal 30 year old player said he wants to play till he's 35 and I believe him. Bloke is the ultimate pro in keeping him self fit and hungry hardly get injured he's missed more games through suspension

Oh how cute you believe him. I’m sure both Amon and Impey do too but according to some are done by 33 despite being in career best form, and half backs.

Asking for four firsts and a second for anyone is ridiculous let alone someone who you probably get a few elite years out of and then goes into a role where they can still be good but not relied on. You don’t pay unheard of amounts for that.

 

[Brezsa]

I get Essendon supporters saying the deal came late so we didn’t have time to convince a player of note to want to come to Essendon, but we all knew this was a prospect for weeks, Essendon could have been proactive the weeks leading up to trade to find someone (maybe they did and nobody cared)

No winners here, Hawthorn huge chance to get a player that could make the difference in a premiership tilt, Essendon a huge chance to cash in on a disgruntled player & it’s not like having him has worked out, they aren’t a contender & for Merrett, he has problem done everything he can to help Essendon succeed over his career and it’s just hasn’t worked from a team point of view & now he is stuck, but probably should have addressed this prior to his last contract so he made his bed to a degree

 

[KickinGoalz]

Mate the only reason you can afford trac is because the afl is paying the deal. 17 other clubs would’ve walked from the Merrett deal

We traded out multiple players to afford Trac, and met the Dees demands to ensure the trade would be successful. This will hurt the Hawks trade rep in the short term.

 

[QuietB]

“DGB is great and will be a main stay for the next decade. Kossie, Lewis, Jeka, Callow etc all 23 and under.”

How many are still there?

With regard to DGB - not our fault West Australians are complete flogs

 

[HeHateMe]

This will hurt the Hawks for the immediate future. You assured Zach & his manager you would get the deal done. That means whatever it takes.
Just as the Swans & Suns have just done.

It surely has to cause future doubt for high profile players nominating the Hawks while the current recruiting team is in control?

So your ruling yourself out of a move to the hawks, damn we lost another one

 

[Shueygod]

Nope I don’t, there’s plenty of development for all clubs. In the way you’ve described however, Hawthorn have little and the rest have heaps. It’s an interesting angle to draw to.

Yes, Gold Coast have double digit top 10 picks from the last 4 years including this one to make/improve their team.

Hawks have?

 

[cobra land]

Knock Knock..who's there

Not Sam Mitchell...

 

[Farm Boy]

Missed opportunity for a rebuilding Essendon.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

A club wanting to keep their best player and captain who's under contract is being arrogant? lols

If the Hawks offered their 2027 first the deal would have gone through in the last few minutes but i guess you weren't that desperate for Zac in the end

Hawthorn aren’t desperate to blow up their future for Merrett no.

10 (2025, F1 (2026), F1 (2027) 1st 22 (2025), and F2 is just unfathomably high and purely laughable.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

We traded out multiple players to afford Trac, and met the Dees demands to ensure the trade would be successful. This will hurt the Hawks trade rep in the short term.

And the only reason you could afford to trade out those players is because you had another 2 top 5 academy kids coming this year, the only reason you had those picks to trade tonight is due to the leg up the northern clubs get every single year which allows you to get gun kids in year on year for **** all.

Won’t do **** all to our rep.

 

[HeHateMe]

Knock Knock..who's there

Not Sam Mitchell...

Sam Walsh?

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Hawks waited till Monday 36 hours before deadline to make an offer why couldn't they presented that offer last week? would have given them a week or so to try and convince a player to be part of a trade even if they want to come to Essendon trade them to another club for more draft picks.

Hawks ****ed up they knew he wasn't going to be cheap

We were trying to see if any players actually wanted to go to Essendon.

Every single one of them except hustwaite said no.

Which makes total sense. It's a club where their captain is desperate to leave.

 

[HeHateMe]

Hawthorn aren’t desperate to blow up their future for Merrett no.

10 (2025, F1 (2026), F1 (2027) 1st 22 (2025), and F2 is just unfathomably high and purely laughable.

I actually think we were, and we almost did but Walsh came in with the save.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

We traded out multiple players to afford Trac, and met the Dees demands to ensure the trade would be successful. This will hurt the Hawks trade rep in the short term.

Oh god here we go.

They also traded 2 second round picks to you.

You coming in here and lording over the place because GC got Petracca for 2 first rounders MINUS 2 second rounders isn't impressing anyone. There's a whole other thread to talk about Petracca if that's what you want to do.